A half-day in the Jewellery Quarter: walks, museums and an Indian dinner

The best way to spend a half-day in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, is to arrive around lunchtime, walk in along the canal locks, take a guided tour of a preserved workshop, and finish among the Victorian cemeteries before dinner. Here is an easy afternoon route, with a link to each stop's official page so you can check times and book before you go.

The Jewellery Quarter is a Conservation Area with more than 200 listed buildings, and Visit Birmingham estimates that around 40% of British jewellery is still made here, by more than 100 independent retailers and craftspeople. It has also been named a World Craft City. You do not need a car or a plan for every minute. You need comfortable shoes, one museum booking and a table for the evening. We would be glad to look after that last part.

Which day? On the official pages we checked, Thursday is the one day when the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, the Pen Museum and St Paul's Church are all open. On Friday to Sunday, the museums are open but St Paul's is not.

Early afternoon: the locks and St Paul's Square

Start in the city centre on Livery Street, by Snow Hill. The Canal & River Trust's city walk begins here and climbs the Farmer's Bridge Locks, a flight once so busy that gas lighting was put in so crews could work through the night. At Lock 9, the canal runs directly under Newhall Street Bridge, and the Trust notes that the Jewellery Quarter lies just to the west. Look out for the lines of poetry carved into the lock arms at Lock 8 before you leave the towpath.

From there, head up into St Paul's Square. St Paul's Church has been at the heart of the Quarter since 1779 and is open for visits Monday to Thursday, 11am to 2pm, with guided tours on Thursdays. Otherwise you can show yourself round with the church's own guides. It is closed on Fridays, so on a weekend afternoon simply enjoy the square from outside.

Mid-afternoon: one museum, done properly

The Quarter has three small museums, and on a half-day we suggest picking one or two rather than racing between all three.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter (Vyse Street). This is the one to book. When the owners of the Smith & Pepper jewellery firm retired in 1981, they stopped trading and locked the door, leaving a time capsule behind. The museum is open Thursday to Sunday, and entry is by guided tour only. Tours last about 45 minutes, and the last one starts at 3:15pm, so an early-afternoon slot keeps the rest of the walk relaxed. Pre-booking is advised.

The Pen Museum (Frederick Street). In the Victorian era, Birmingham was home to 129 pen-making companies employing around 8,000 workers, mostly women. The Pen Museum at the Argent Centre tells their story and is open Thursday to Saturday from 11am and Sunday from 12pm, with last entry at 3pm. A volunteer demonstration on the fly presses is included when volunteers are available (ticket details).

The Coffin Works (Fleet Street). On the edge of the Quarter, the Coffin Works is the Grade II* listed factory of Newman Brothers, Birmingham's last coffin-furniture maker. When the workers walked out for the final time in 1998, they left everything behind. It opens from 10:45am. Check its visit page for current days and access before you go.

Late afternoon: the Chamberlain Clock and the cemeteries

Whichever museum you choose, make your way to the Chamberlain Clock, the cast-iron clock tower at the centre of the Quarter's shopping streets. It was made by W.F. Evans & Sons of Handsworth and installed in 1903 as a memorial to Joseph Chamberlain MP. The Grade II listed clock was restored and put back in early 2021, and there is a history panel nearby in Golden Square (Jewellery Quarter Townscape Heritage). This is also the place to browse the independent jewellers on the way.

Visit Birmingham describes Key Hill and Warstone Lane cemeteries as a short walk from the clock. They are Birmingham's two oldest cemeteries: Key Hill opened in 1836 as the city's first garden cemetery, and Warstone Lane followed in 1848. Both landscapes are on Historic England's Register of Parks and Gardens (Jewellery Quarter Cemeteries Project). Visit Birmingham lists Harry Gem, the inventor of lawn tennis, and Alfred Bird, Birmingham's "Mr Custard", among those buried here.

Time this part carefully in winter. The council's pages for Warstone Lane and Key Hill give opening hours of 8:30am to 4pm from October to March, and 8:30am to 4:30pm from April to September. There are no toilets on site, and only medical and guide dogs are allowed. Paths were resurfaced in 2021, but the council advises care on uneven ground between the grave rows. Please remember these are working cemeteries and walk respectfully.

Both cemeteries list their address as Icknield Street, which is where your evening ends.

Evening: dinner at Aara, 108-109 Icknield Street

As the light goes, walk on to Aara at 108-109 Icknield Street. Our menu cooks right across India, so a table of people who want different things can all order well.

Our roots are in the South. You may know us as a South Indian restaurant, and the Andhra chicken fry, Telangana mutton curry, Chicken 65 and Malabar chicken show why. The Hyderabadi-style dum biryanis are sealed and slow-cooked, in chicken, lamb, king prawn or vegetable, with bagara rice on the side.

From the North, our tikkas are marinated overnight and chargrilled in the tandoor, and the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, paneer tikka masala and dal tadka come with tandoori naan or butter roti straight from the oven. After an afternoon on your feet, a Masala chai or a mango lassi with kulfi is a good way to finish.

We use halal meat in our meat dishes. The all-day menu runs from 12:00 every day, until 22:00 Sunday to Thursday and 23:00 on Friday and Saturday. If you are driving, there are three free spaces in front of the restaurant and free parking on Pope Street.

Aara, 108-109 Icknield Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham B18 6RZ.